Gettysburg College Traditions

Before the academic year begins, Welcome Gatherings on campus help incoming students and families connect with members of the Gettysburg community.

Orientation introduces first-year students to campus, classmates, resources, and life at Gettysburg. Through events and activities, you begin building the relationships that will shape your College experience.

Your Gettysburg experience begins when you arrive on campus. On Move-In Day, returning students help first-year students settle into their residence halls and start making Gettysburg home.

Opening Convocation formally welcomes first-year students into the Gettysburg College community. Students process through Pennsylvania Hall at the beginning of their college journey. Years later, they pass through the building again at the end of Commencement.

During the First-Year Walk, new students travel from campus to the Soldiers’ National Cemetery. The tradition recreates the journey College students, faculty, and community members made in 1863 to hear President Abraham Lincoln deliver the Gettysburg Address. The walk connects you to the history of this place while inviting you to think about the difference you will make here.

Gettysburg Is Volunteering Day (GIV Day) brings students, faculty, and staff together to serve organizations throughout the Adams County community.

Field Day brings first-year students together during Orientation for friendly competition among residence halls. Through team activities and games, students build connections with their new neighbors and begin their Gettysburg experience as a community.

The International Street Fair brings the campus community together around food and cultural traditions from around the world.

To kick off the new academic year, Gettysburgians show their school spirit on Orange & Blue Day every fall. Students, alumni, faculty, staff, families, and friends sport orange and blue swag, share their Gettysburg memories, and enjoy orange and blue treats, like Italian ice. 

Homecoming welcomes alumni back to campus to reconnect with friends and experience Gettysburg today. For current students, Homecoming is also a reminder that being a Gettysburgian extends far beyond your years on campus.

Family Weekend welcomes families to campus for a firsthand look at life at Gettysburg. Through academic programs, performances, athletics, exhibits, and other activities, families can spend time with their students and experience the Gettysburg community together.

Each November, Dedication Day commemorates the Gettysburg Address and the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery on Nov. 19, 1863. The annual ceremony connects the Gettysburg community to the history and enduring significance of Lincoln’s words.

Before Thanksgiving break, students gather at the Dining Center—fondly known as Servo—for Servo Thanksgiving Dinner. Friends, roommates, and teammates share a Thanksgiving meal, while faculty and staff join the tradition by serving students.Before Thanksgiving break, students gather at the Dining Center—fondly known as Servo—for Servo Thanksgiving Dinner. Friends, roommates, and teammates share a Thanksgiving meal, while faculty and staff join the tradition by serving students.

Burgburst brings the Gettysburg community together to celebrate cultures from around the world. This annual student-led tradition features food, music, dance, and other performances that give students opportunities to share their cultures.

Founder’s Day marks the founding of Gettysburg College. The College’s original charter was signed April 7, 1832. This day offers an opportunity to reflect on Gettysburg’s history and the people who have shaped it.

Get Acquainted Day welcomes accepted students and their families to campus in April. This day is where it all starts—meeting future friends, exploring campus, and picturing your life here.

As the academic year draws to a close, Springfest brings students together for a carnival full of fun and food with friends.

Commencement celebrates graduating students and the work that brought them to this moment. At the end of the ceremony, graduates process through Pennsylvania Hall. The tradition completes a journey that began when they passed through the building during Convocation.

The Gettysburg experience continues after graduation. During Reunion Weekend, alumni return to reconnect with classmates, revisit familiar places, explore campus today, and make new memories together.